sidedeck
Meaning
A set of extra cards in a collectible card game, separate from a player's main deck, that can be swapped in between matches or games.
To place a card into one's side deck; to modify a deck using cards from the side deck.
Structure
Usage
Between games, he consulted his sidedeck to find cards better suited against his opponent's strategy.
A well-constructed sidedeck is crucial for adapting to the diverse decks you might face in a tournament.
Remember to sidedeck your artifact removal spells before the next match.
Etymology
The term is a modern compound originating from the specialized lexicon of trading card and collectible card games (CCGs) like Magic: The Gathering and Yu-Gi-Oh!. It literally combines 'side,' implying an auxiliary or supplementary position, with 'deck,' the established term for a player's set of game cards. The concept evolved from tournament practices where players, anticipating different opponents, would prepare a secondary set of cards to adapt their main strategy between games in a match. Thus, the compound's logic perfectly captures its function: a lateral or supplementary card collection that supports the primary deck.
Analysis
side: From Old English sīde (flank, lateral surface), of Germanic origin. Functions as a noun used attributively to indicate a secondary or auxiliary position. deck: From Middle Dutch dec (roof, covering), later meaning the floor of a ship, and in modern gaming, a pack of playing cards. Functions as a noun denoting the primary object (the deck of cards).